COLUMBIA, Mo. — Veterinarian Linda Lackman will explain what to expect in an emergency animal disease outbreak as the keynote speaker of the annual Pearls of Production: Women in Agriculture program, Nov. 5-6.
Lackman is emergency coordinator at USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in Jefferson City. “Dr. Lackman is passionate about the importance of biosecurity and will be presenting on ‘Secure Food Supply Plans,’” says Corinne Bromfield, University of Missouri Extension swine veterinarian.
Lackman, a 2001 graduate of the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, was a mixed animal practitioner in rural Missouri for 19 years before joining the USDA last year. She lives with her husband and five children on a farm in Cole County where they have cattle, horses and hair sheep.
MU Extension coordinates the event, which begins with a tour of the Brinker family farm operations in Auxvasse. Bromfield says participants will learn about biosecurity measures the family uses to keep hogs healthy, safe and profitable.
On Nov. 6, participants rotate through three breakout sessions on the MU campus. The Pearls of Production team will give practical protocols to prevent diseases in livestock operations. Participants will use maps of their own farms to develop biosecurity plans.
A session on “Bovine Telehealth” will offer tips on what to do when you can’t get a veterinarian to the farm right away. MU Extension livestock specialists and MU Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab staff will show how to take temperatures, collect samples and communicate symptoms and animal health history.
Participants also can tour MU’s food animal clinic to see a foot table, tub and chute system and learn about updated tagging requirements. They will hear about new research to improve treatment decisions on the farm.
Register by Oct. 26 to be entered into a drawing for a stethoscope. For more information, visit muext.us/PearlsofProduction or facebook.com/
Source: Corinne Bromfield, 573-882-8181
— Linda Geist, University of Missouri Extension